Explosive composition



atented Oct. 18, 1932 PT? If.

CHARLES SPAETH, OF WOODIBURY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO I. DU PONT Dll NEMOURS & COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE No Drawing.

My invention relates tonew and improved explosive compositions and particularly toreact with formaldehyde under suitable conditions in the presence of a condensation agent, the trihydroxy alcohol, trimethylol ethyl methane is formed. This compound contains three methylol groups available for nitration. I have discovered that when the,

above compound is treated with nitric acid under favorable conditions, trimethylol ethyl .methane trinitrate is formed according to the following reaction While the introduction of the nitrate groups may be brought about by various added to 95% nitric acid; or the alcohol may be added to 95% nitric acid followed by the addition of a suitable amount of 95%sulphuric acid. Irrespective, however, of .the method used, the nitrated material can be readily separated from the waste acid/wand washed free from impurities, particularly water soluble acid impurities.

In the pure state, the compound, trimethylol ethyl methane trinitrate, has a melting point of about 48 (land a nitrogencontent of 15.61%. It has the desirable property of excellent chemical stability, and is relatively free from harmful physiological efiects.

The desirable properties of this compound adapt it for use in explosive compositions of various t pes. For example, trimethylol ethyl met ane trinitrate is a valuable in- Application filed November 20, 1931.

EXPLOSIVE COMPOSITION Serial No. 576,434.

gredient of propellent powders in conjunction with nitrocellulose, or with nitroglycerin and nitrocellulose.

Illustrative examples of compositions containing nitrocellulose and trimethylol ethyl methane trinitrate with and without nitroglycerin are given as follows:

Nitrocellulose (12.9 to 13.5% nitro Pam gen content) to 95 Trimethylol ethyl methane trinitrat'e 40 to 5 Stabilizer 1 Nitrocellulose (12.9 to 13.5% nitrogen content) Nitr0glycerin 30 to 10 Trimethylol ethyl methane trinitrate .r 5 to 25 Stabilizer 1 Likewise these new compounds may be used to advantage as ingredients in cast base charges for blasting caps, either by themselves'or in fusions with other explosive compounds of high melting points, for example, tetryl, pentaerythrite tetranitrate, etc. An additional use for trimethylol ethyl methane trinitrate is in dynamite compositions, particularly as a depressant of the freezing point of nitroglycerin, having itself an active explosive effect. 7

While various desirable compositions which include my new explosive compound as an ingredient have been suggested i n the foregoing, its use in dynamite compositions is more particularly illustrated in the following:

r Per cent Nitroglyceri'n Trimethylol ethyl methane trimtrate- 7 Nitrocotton 0. 6- Ammonium nitrate 15 Sodium nitrate 43 Carbonaceous combustible 12. 4 Chalk 1 While I, have given a specific embodiment in the foregoing, it is to be understood that this is illustrative only and that trimethylol ethyl methane trinitrate may be used in any dynamite composition of the types generally in use, either in the nongelatinous compositions or in, gelatin dynamites. Likewise the presence or absence of ammonium nitrate in the formula is immaterial to my invention.

Furthermore, in place of sodium nitrate, or in addition thereto, I may use various other oxidizing salts, as, for example, ammonium perchlorate, potassium nitrate, etc. Also in place of nitroglycerin, or in addition thereto, I may use various other liquid explosive sensitizers as ethylene glycol dinitrate, nitrated sugar, nitrated polymerized glycerin, etc.

While I have described various new compositions using trimethylol ethyl methane trinitrate, it will be understood that many variations in the details may he made without departure from the spirit of the invention, and that I intend to be limited in my invention only as indicated in the following patent claims.

I claim:

1. As a new compound trimethylol ethyl methane trinitrate.

2 An explosive composition containing as an ingredient trimethylol ethyl methane trinitrate.

A propellent explosive containing as an ingredient trimethylol ethyl methane trinitrate.

a, A detonator composition containing as an ingredient trimethylol ethyl methane trinitrate.

5, A dynamite composition containing as an ingredient trimethylol ethyl methane trinitram 6. A dynamite composition containing a liquid nitric ester and trimethylol ethyl methane trinitrate. I

7. A dynamite composition containing a liquld nitric ester, nitrocotton and trimethylol ethyl methane trinitrate.

8. A dynamite composition containing nitroglycerin and trimethylol ethyl. methane trinitrate.

9. A dynamite composition containing nitroglycerin, an oxidizing agent, a carbonaceous'combustible material, and trimethylol ethyl methane trinitrate.

lln testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES P. SPAETH.

Leaaoee 

